שקלים – Shekalim

Shekalim 7~ Plagiarism, Citation, and the Lips of the Dead

On the importance of proper attribution, and some egregious examples of Jewish plagiarism.

Shekalim 10b ~ Correcting a Sefer Torah

The Temple appointed a scribe in insure all Sifrei Torah had the same text. But errors creep in. Just ask Rashi. His Torah was possul.

Shekalim 13a-b ~ The Cohen and his Stomach Problems

Why the Cohanim often came down with gastroenteritis, and needed an on call physician in the Temple.

Shekalim 14 ~ Love of The Other, The Drowned Duke, and Two People named Pinchas

In 1797 Pinchas Hurwitz radically reinterpreted the command to love the other. His message could not be more relevant.